Pubdate: Tue, 25 Nov 2014
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post Company
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Danielle Greene

STOP ASSET FORFEITURE PRACTICES NOW

The Nov. 19 Metro article "Council votes to overhaul seizures" 
reported that D.C. police have taken for years "cash, cars and other 
property" from people not charged with crimes without oversight. I am outraged.

Which part of "effective immediately" doesn't the D.C. Council know 
how to spell? Why wait till 2018 to fully overhaul the city's asset 
forfeiture program, directing seized proceeds to the city's general 
fund instead of to the police department? The idea that the 
department appropriated funds in advance of crimes being perpetrated 
and prosecuted is outrageous. It's easy to imagine police entrapments 
or pay-to-play shenanigans that would bring in cash to balance the forecast.

I urge the D.C. Council to consider "effective immediately" to avoid 
national disgrace for having engaged in the asset forfeiture scam in 
the first place, thereby making crime pay before it happens. For 
shame, for shame.

Danielle Greene, Falls Church
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom